Turbine-motor and pressure device.



T. J. LOFTUS. TURBINE MOTOR AND PRESSURE DEVICE. APPLICATION IILBD 17mm, 1910.

978,044. Patented Dee 6, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

THOMAS J. LOFTUS, OF CASTELLA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CZEIARLES T. LOFTUS, OF CASTELLA, CALIFORNIA, AND ONE-HALF TO HARMON BELL, OF

. OAKLAND, calrronma.

TURBINE-MOTOR AND PRESSURE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1910. Serial No. 542,866.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Learns, a citizen of the United States, residin at Castella, in the county 'of Shasta and state of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Turbine-Motor and Pressure Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This device relates to that class of motors wherein a plurality of disks provided with wings or blades, or other form of impact surfaces are caused to rotate by fluid under ressure, whether the same be constant or intermittent, and relates more particularlyto the means whereby the flow of motive fluid is controlled and directed to the power-imparting mechanism. The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination 'of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 isa transverse section on line H of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 12-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line -0 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a .detail view illustrating the igniter. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the starting device. A is a base upon which is supported the operating mechanism, the same consisting of means whereb the motive fluid is controlled, and means w ereby the same is utilized to cause a rotation of a series of disks. The latter means consist of a cylinder 1 having a head or cap 2, in which is journaled the end of a shaft 3; the opposite end of said shaft is journaled in the head 4, the same being provided with a longitudinal extension 5, the purpose of which is to provide bearing for a series of rotatable disks 7. Said disks are provided on their peri hery with a series of radial wings or bla es 8 which may be concavo-convex, or other suitable configuration, and so situated that the impact of motive fluid against the same, will tend to rotate the adjacent disks in opposed direc-. tions. The faces of said disks are provided 1 with suitable circular racks 9, into which mesh pinions 10' adapted, to rotate freely upon studs 11 revoluble in the extension 5..

Suitable means are provided whereby thebearing of the disks on the extension 5 is lubricated, the same consisting of passages 12, communicating with the passage 13 in the shaft 3.

Secured to the shaft 3 is a disk 14 which receives the final impact of the motive fluid, and s connected to revolve in unison with the disks 7. Secured upon the rear face of .said disk is a suitable raceway 15; a like A suitable exhaust opening 19 is provided in the head 2 whereby the spent fluid is allowed to escape.

The head 4 is provided with a waist portion 20, and a flange 21, to which is secured by meansof bolts the plate 22, upon which the controlling valves are mounted. Situated within the waist 20 are'the valve chambers 23 in which reciprocate the valves 24, the same controlling the communicating passages 25 bet-ween the disk housin 1 and the explosion chamber 26, the latter aving partitions 27 whereby chambers are provided for each set of inlet valves, and the igniter for,same. To permit of a free movement of the valves 24 in either their active or passive stroke, a small port 28 communicating with the. valve chamber and the atmosphere through a second port 29 is provided.

The valve 24 is operated to close the assage. 25.by means of a spring 30 encirc ing the stem 31 of valve 24, the same abutting at one end against the stufling-box of the valve stem, and the other against the collar 32. The said valve is operated in its active stroke by the expansion of gases which are admitted to the explosion chamber through and around the valves 33.

Secured to the plate 22 is a valve housing 34having supply ports 35 for air under pressure, and a port 36 for the admission of gas, orv a combustible volatilizing liquid.

A suitable passage 37 is provided in the said valve, one end 0 which is constantly in communication with chamber 26, while the opposite end is adapted to open and close communication wit the passage 36.

A waist portion 39 is rovided on the stem of the valve 33 by whic communication 'for air admission is established between chamber 26, and'the port 35. The movement of valve -which meshes the pinion 45, the same being secured to the master-wheel 46, and rotating with same, and is driven by means of the pinion 47 secured to the shaft- 3. By this construction the power disks 7 may revolve at high speed. and the speed of the disk 41 be reduced through the medium of the gear connection to the main shaft.

The wheel 46 is adapted to revolve freely upon a stud carried by the standard 47, the same being supported upon the standard 48, secured to the-base A. p

Suitable means'is provided whereby the initial starting of the motor may be efiected,

the same consisting of a handle 50, secured to the ring 42 and rotating with same. Upon the interior of said handle is a plunger 51 having lateral projecting tliumb pieces 52, whereby the plunger may be retracted against the action of'the projecting sprin 52. The outer end of plunger 51 is adapted to enter a perforation 1n the u turned flange of the disk 41, whereby the'disk 41 and the ring 42 will be held in engagement. The means employed to efi'ect ignition is shown in Fig. 5, and consists of two parts,

.one, 60, permanently secured against movement, and lnsulated against the metal parts, and the other, 61, insulated in like manner.

The part 61 is operated by means ofa spring to produce a spark between the contact points, and in the opposite direction by means of the tappet rollers 43. Secured near the upper ends of the spark plugs .60 and 61 are flanges or collars 6263, the same adapted to maintain a complete circuit at all times when not operated, and shifting the direction of current from thecollars 62 and 63 down one spark plug, and up the other,:when the spark points are in contact; the electric conductor from the battery or dynamo having connection to the upper end of the spark plugs. By this arrangement, the mechanism employed to produce a spark is alwaysin circuit with the next succeeding sparking apparatus whether there are two -or more, or in other words the same will be arranged in series. v

Having described the construction, the operation is as, follows:.Motive fluid, or an explosive mixture, is held under pressure exterior of the valve housing, and the valves Within the same seated. Under such condi tions it is necessary to first charge the explosion chamber'by operatingthe valve said chambers said means includm .expl

pet rollers in. contact with the movable part 61 of the igniter, thus closing the circuit through the contact points. A continued movement of said ring will allow the moving section of the igniter to retract and open the circuit, and spark across fromone point to the other, and ignite the charge within the explosion chamber, and shift the valve 24, thus opening the explosion chamber, to the disk chamberthrough the passages 25, when the fluid so generated will escape, and im- A fur-- ther partial rotation will then bring the tappact against the wings on the-disks, and

cause a rotation of same alternately in op-.

posite directions; the. power ofzeach diskbe ing imparted to the finaldisk secured to the shaft 3, which will rotate same, and operate all parts connectedtherewith; the plunger 57 being released it engages a notch in the rim 41, thus engaging the ring 42' thereon.

The arrangement of valves and igniter may be modified from that here illustrated,

and so arranged that eachand every valve 7 I may be operated during every revolution of the main'shaft, or any number of explosions may be had per revolution, the same being controlled by the number of tappet rollers carried by the ring 42.

Having thus described my mvention', what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a turbine motor, the combination of a turbine housing, a series of combustion chambers at one end thereof, means for delivering .explosive. fluid under ressure to air. and gas inlets and normally closed va ves con trolling said inlets, means for operating the valves to permit the fluids to enter the explosion chamber, means for exploding said fluid in the chambers, said housin passages connecting its interior wit theexplos'ion'chambers, and horizontally slidable valves normally closin the inlet to said passages and actuated y the gases of the ed charge to direct the ex Ioded fluid to the interior of the housi'n "'and volved by said disks, and connections be: tween the shaft and the first named valves for o eratmg the latter.

2. n a' turbine motor, the combination of.

n.' drive shaft, a plurality of revoluble turbme disks adapted to revolve said shaft, a

i to theturbme dlsks, adrlve shaft a apted to be re--- having housing for said turbine disks, a series of combustion chambers at one end of the housing, said housing having passa es connecting its interior with said cham rs, means for admitting explosive fluid under pressure to the combustion chambers, said means including air and gas ports and valves controllin said ports each valve controlling a. pair 0 ports and having a longitudinal pasge through it, means for operating the ves to admit theexplosive fluid to the chambers, means for exploding the fluid in said chambers, and valves normally closing the passages between the chambers and the interior of the housing, said last named valve being operated by the gases of the exploded charge.

3'. In a turbine motor a drive shaft, a

plurality of revoluble turbine disks adapted to revolve said shaft, a housing for said turbine disks, a series of combustion chambers on said housing, normally closed valve controlled passa esconnecting said combustion chambers wit the interior of said housing,

ports for the admission of fluids under pres:

sure to said combustion chambers, normally closed valves between said orts. and said chambers, means on said rive shaft for opening said "alves to admit fluids through ring, contact rollers on said ring by which said ring may be revolved so that a said rollers will 0 n said valve-controlled ports to admit flui s to said chambers.

5.- In a turbine motor, a series ofncombustion chambers, ports for admitting explosive fluids under ressure to each of said chambers, norma y closed valves between said ports and said chambers, sparking mechanism for exploding fluids in said combustion chambers, a revoluble ring, means on said ring by which said valves and said sparking mechanism may be operated, and means for revolving said ring;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v a

THOMAS J. LOFTUS. Witnesses:

JAS. G. Esrnr,

ETHEL M. Rrcmmnson. 

